Steam engine



Patented Aug. 18, 1936 PATENT. oral-ca STEAM ENGINE Walter SkwierawskLlWilwaukee, Wis; assignor of one-half to Isidore Z Davidoff, Milwaukee,

'Wis.

Application July 19, 1934, Serial No. 135,981

. 1 Claim. (01.121-127) This invention appertainsto engines, and more particularly to steam engines of the -reciprocatory piston type. 1

One of the salient objects of my invention is to provide a steam engine of a simple, light and compact structure, whereby the same will "be-particularly susceptible for use in connection with-airplanes, automobiles, and other motor vehicles. r

Steam engines, due to the flexibility thereof and small cost of operation, are very desirable for airplanes and automobiles. Another advantage of the steam engine overan internal combustion engine for motor-vehicle work is that the entire cooling system, the ignitionsystem, "carburetor, muflleryetc of the internal combustion engine can be eliminated, and the life of the engine and vehicle itself is'extendedas the shock ct the explosions and the consequent vi- 'brations of the gasengine are dispensed with.

One'of the greatest disadvantages of the steam engine for automobiles and airplanes is the valve gear. For automobile and airplane work, it {is necessary that the inlet and exhaust valves be 'quick-ly opened and closed and-operated in positive timed relation.

Through years of experimenting 1 have found that a two-cycle steam engine'having positively controlled poppet valves gives the greatest efli- =ciency, and therefore a further prime object of my invention is the provision of a two-cycle steam engine having novel valves and -'-operating means for the purpose outlined above.

A still further object of "my invention is the provision of a two-cycle steam engine having poppet valves for the inlet and exhaust arranged in the cylinder head normally held on their seats by spring pressure, with means actuated from a single rock shaft for operating the valves.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a rock shaft extending substantially diametrically across each cylinder, having operating fingers rigidly secured thereto and disposed in predetermined relation for engaging the stems of the valves, whereby upon actuation of the rock shaft the valves will be positively operated in correct timed relation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through a steam engine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2'is 'a' fragmentary side elevation of one cylinder of my eng-i-ne.

Figure 3 is a top planview of one cylinder of the engine.

be bolted to the desired supporting structure.

Rotatably mounted in the crank-case is the longitudinally extending crank-shaft l2, and any desired bearings can be provided for the same. M

This crank-shaft is provided with crank-arms l3, which correspond in number to the number of cylinders of the engine.

Mounteduponthe crank-arm i3 is the connecting rod M, which is i-n turn' connected to the wrist pin I5 of the piston 16 reciprocally mounted in the cylinder I. The piston i6 is provided with any desired type of piston rings vided with an integral cylinder head-l8, the

opposite sides of which are providedrespectively with inlet and exhaust ports l9 and 20. .Amanifold 22 communicates with the exhaust port. The cylinder head I8 is provided with oppositely directed inlet and exhaust valve seats 23 and 24. Poppet valves 25 and 26 are provided for the valve seats 23 and 24. The head is provided with chambers 21 and 28 which communicate respectively with the port l9 and the valve opening 23, and the port 29 and the valve opening 24. Closing the upper ends of the chambers 21 and 28 are valve guides 29 and 30. The valve stems 3| and 32 of the valves 25 and 2E extend through the guides, and suitable packing can be placed around the valve stems.

By referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that the inlet valve 25 opens outwardly, while the exhaust valve 26 opens inwardly. An expansion spring 33 is placed around the valve stem 3| and its opposite end bears respectively against the valve 25 and the valve guide 29 and functions to normally hold the outwardly opening valve on its seat. This stem 3| is provided with a single head, or collar, 34 on its outer end.

The outer end of the cylinder 1 can be 'pro- U crank-case 5, and the shaft is driven at the de-" The stem 32 of the exhaust valve '26 is provided with a pair of spaced heads, or collars, 35 on its outer end. An expansion spring 36 is coiled about the stem 32 and bears against the valve guide and the innermost head 35 for normally holding, the inwardly opening exhaust valve on'its'seat. 7

One of the salient features of the'invention is the arrangement of the valves and the operating means 3l'therefor; This operating'means'31 includesa cam shaft 38 rotatably mounted in the single rock shaft 44. This shaft is supported by bearings 45 which can be secured to the cylinder head; One end of the rock shaft is providedwith a crank-arm 46, the outer end of which is connected by means of a pivot pin 4'! with the push rod 4|.

Rigidlysecured to the rock shaft 44 are valve operating fingers 48 and 49. These fingers can be bifurcated, ,as'shown, for receiving the valve stems 3| and 32.. The bifurcated finger 48 extends under the head, or collar, 34, while the .finger 49 extends between the heads, or collars, 35 of the valve stem 32. These fingers are arranged at different angles-relative to one another, so that when the fingers move up, one valve will be opened and the other valve will be closed,-,and when the fingers move down the first valve will be closed and the. other valve opened.

As stated, a plurality of cylinders is employed,

and the crank-arms on the crank-shaft are arranged at different angles to eliminate the forming of a dead center andrto give smooth operation.

r In operation,'steam is supplied to the manlfold 2| ,Vandwhen the inlet valve is opened steam will fiow into the cylinder and force the piston down. At the end of the piston-stroke the inlet valve will be closed, and. the exhaust valve will be opened, so that upon the upstroke of the piston the spent steam will be quickly exhausted.

Referring to the valve operating means, it can be seen that in Figure 1 the fingers 48 and 49 are in their raised position and the finger 48 has lifted the head, or collar 34. The finger 49 merely moves away from the lower collar 35 during its upward movement, and the outer collar merely acts as a stop therefor. .Upon downward movement of the fingers the finger 49 will engage the inner collar 35 and move the valve' gagement with the lower collar 35.

By this arrangement, it can be ,seen thatthe valves are positively operated in proper timed relation. Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit'or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is In a two-cycle steam engine, a crank case, a cylinder connected with thecrank case having a head at its outerendprovided with inlet and exhaust ports, a crank shaft in the'crank case, a piston reciprocatively mounted'in the cylinder, means operatively connecting the piston with the crank shaft, a valve cam, means forvoperating the came from the crank shaft, anoutwardly opening poppet valve for controlling the flow of steam into the'cylinder through the inlet port, and an inwardly opening poppet valve for controlling the fiow of spent steam through the exhaust port, guides carried by the'cyli'nder head for the-stems of the poppet valves, a pair of spaced collars on theouter end of the stem of the inwardly opening valve, afsingle' collar on the outer end-of the stemof the outwardly opening valve, a rock shaft extending across the cylinder head having a crank arm thereon, a push rod normally engaging the cam and operatively connected to the crank arm, and a pair of bifurcated fingers arranged'at different angles rigidly secured to the rock shaft engaging around the valve'stems, and respectively between the' WALTER SVKWIERAWSKI.

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